Sphere

sfēr, n. a ball or globe: an orb or circle: circuit of motion: province or duty: definite range: rank, position in society: ( geom. ) a surface every point of which is equidistant from one and the same point, called the centre.— adjs. Sphēr′al ; Sphere′le .— ns. Sphere′-met′al ( Milt. ), metal like that of which the celestial spheres were anciently supposed to be made; Sphere′-mū′sic , the music of the spheres.— adjs. Spher′ic , -al , pertaining to, or like, a sphere.— n. Spherical′ity .— adv. Spher′ically .— ns. Spher′icalne , Spheric′ity , state or quality of being spherical: roundne ; Spher′icle , a little sphere; Spher′ics , the geometry and trigonometry of the sphere; Sphē′roid , a body or figure nearly spherical, but not quite so—a species of ellipsoid ( prolate spheroid, a slightly lengthened sphere; oblate spheroid, a slightly flattened sphere).— adj. Sphēroi′dal , having the form of a spheroid.— ns. Sphēroidi′city , Sphēroid′ity , the state of being spheroidal; Sphē′romēre , one of the symmetrical segments of a radiate; Sphērom′eter , an instrument for measuring the sphericity of portions of spherical surfaces—for example, lenses; Sphē′rosid′erite , the name given to impure or earthy and frequently concretionary varieties of carbonate of iron.— adj. Spher′ūlar .— ns. Spher′ūle , a little sphere; Spher′ūlite , a radiating spherical group of minute acicular crystals common in silicious volcanic rocks.— adjs. Spherūlit′ic ; Sphē′ry , spherical, round: belonging to the celestial spheres. [Fr.,—L. sphæra —Gr. sphaira .]